High strength paperboard containers



Sept. 4, 1956 c. D. WELSHENBACH 2,751,610

HIGH STRENGTH PAFERBOARD CONTAINERS Filed July 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Charles D. T Vizlshenbach ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,761,610 HIGH STRENGTH PAPERB'OARD CONTAINERS Charles D. Welshenbach, Sandusky, Ohio, assignor to The Hinde & 'Dauch Paper Company, Sandusky, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 10, 1953, Serial No. 367,136

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) The present application is a continuation-in-part of applicants copending application Serial No. 274,577, filed March 2, 1952.

This invention relates to high strength paperboard containers and more particularly to a vertically elongated container or carton that has strength and rigidity enough to make it suitable for shipping loose, heavy articles such as nails, bolts, nuts, screws or the like.

The heavy duty container of the present invention is composed of an inner box that provides an open top receptacle into which the loose material may be fed from a weighing machine or the like, and a cover box of simi- 'lar construction that telescopically fits over the inner box and that is assembled on the inner box after it is filled to provide a cover and to strengthen the side walls of the container.

The inner box and cover box are preferably of identical construction except that the cover box containsa hand-grip and is. made slightly larger than theinner box so that its internal dimensions correspond to theexternal dimensions of the inner box to permit it to. telescopically receive the inner box.

The inner box and cover box are formed from substantially rectangular blanks and each has an end wall strongly united tothe upright side Walls, two parallel side walls being single ply walls and the othertwo side walls being double ply Walls.

The inner box and cover box are preferably so shaped that they can be interfitted only when the double ply walls of the cover box are contiguous to the single ply walls of the inner box and the single ply walls of the cover box are contiguous to the double ply walls of the inner box.

The bottom wall of the inner box and the top wall of the cover. box are each preferably composed of three thicknesses of paperboard and when the cover box is assembled with the inner box each of the four side walls is also composed of three thicknesses of paperboard.

An object of the present invention is to provide a heavy duty shipping container for nails, bolts, nuts, screws or the like which is economical to manufacture, which can be quickly and easily assembled and which possesses great strength.

Other objects, uses, and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heavy duty containerembodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the inner box and cover box separated;

Figure 3 is a sectionv in inFig. 1;

Figure 4' is a horizontal section through the container in the plane indicatedat 44 in Fig. 1;

the plane indicated at 33 Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the inner box taken in the plane indicated at 5-5 in. Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the paperboard blank from which the cover box may be made.

for the handgrips and the slight diiferences in dimensions necessary to permit the cover box to fit closely over the inner box.

In order to distinguish the parts of the cover box from the parts of the inner box where the two are shown in assembled relation while at the same time showing the similarity between the two boxes, the parts of the cover box are designated with the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts of the inner box, with the addition of the reference character a.

The inner box A of the present invention is preferably vertically elongated and has parallel upright single ply walls 1 and 2. The other two walls of the box aredouble ply walls having outer and integral with the side wall 1 and inner plies 5 and 6 which are hinged to and integral with the side wall 2.

The bottom of the box is preferably composed of three thicknesses of paperboard having a bottom ply 7 that is hinged to and integral with the side walls 1 and 2. The intermediate ply of the bottom is preferably formecl by flaps 8' and 9 which are hinged to and integral with the outer plies 3 and 4 of the two ply walls. The'top ply of the bottom is preferably formed by flaps llland 1 1 that are hinged to and integral with the inner plies 5 and 6 of the two ply side walls. The flaps 8 and 9 are preferably of unequal length. with the flap 9 longer than the flap 8. The flaps lit and 11 are also preferably of unequal length with the flap 10 being longer than the flap 11. By forming these flaps of unequal length the end edges of the flaps forming the intermediate and top layers of the bottom wall adjoin along lines 12 and 13 which are oifset from'each other and from the centerof the box so as to increase the rigidity of the bottom.

The overlapping plies of the gether in any suitable way. As and 5 and 4 and 6 of the two together by means of staples 14.

The'cover box B has elements In to 14:: corresponding to the above described elements of box A.

The inner box provides a receptacle which may be filled with loose articles such as nails, bolts, or the like, after which the inner box A and as bands 15. structed that the dlstance between the outer faces of the single ply walls'fll and Z is different from the distance between the .outer faces box B is constructed so that the distance between the inner faces ofi'ts doublep'ly walls corresponds to the distance between the outer"facesv of-the single ply walls of the inner-box A, and the distance between the inner faces of the single ply walls la and 2a corresponds to the distance between the outer facesv of the double ply walls of the inner box, so that the two boxes will fit together only when the double box are in contiguity with the single ply walls of the inner box and the single ply walls of the outer box in contiguity with the double ply walls of the inner box, so that when the two boxes are telescoped together all secured thereto by suitable means such of the walls of the container or carton are of triple thick- Patented Sept. 4, 1956 the preferred embodiment of the present invention plies 3 and 4 that are hinged to boxmay be secured to herein shown the plies 3 ply side walls are secured? cover box B may be placed over'the The inner box A is preferably so conof the double ply walls and the ply Walls of the cover tion. However, it is often desirable to provide suitable handgrips on the cover box B to facilitate lifting of the assembled box or removal of the cover box B. As herein shown, the cover box B includes handgrip slots 31 and 32 cut in the inner plies of the double ply walls and flaps 33 and 34 hinged along double score lines to the outer plies of the double ply walls. Flaps 33 and 34 are hinged to and integral with the outer plies 3a and 4a and are preferably the same size as the slots 31 and 32 so that when folded to the positions shown in Fig. 3 they provide handgrip slots in the outer plies 3a and 4a of the double walls which register with the handgrip slots in inner plies 5a and 6a. The flaps 33 and 34 also closely underlie the top edges of slots 31 and 32 to pro vide a smooth, substantially flat finger ledge on the upper surface of the handgrip. The engagement of the single ply walls 1 and 2 of the inner box with the outer surface of flaps 33 and 34 holds the flaps in the position shown in Fig. 3.

A blank from which the cover box B may be made is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. This blank is formed from a single rectangular piece of fiberboard, preferably corrugated paperboard. The portion of the blank which forms the rectangular bottom layer 7a of the box bottom is at the center of the blank and score lines 16a and 17a are formed between the bottom portion 7a and the side wall portions 1a and 2a, the walls 1a and 2a and bottom 7a forming a rectangular strip extending the full length of the blank centrally thereof.

The rectangular flaps 8a, 9a, 10a and 11a which provide the intermediate and top layers of the box bottom are formed in the portion of the blank alongside the bottom portion 7a, the flaps 10a and 11a being separated from the portion 7a by slits 18a and 19a and the flaps 8a and 9a being separated from the portions 7a by narrow slots 20a and 21a.

The portions of the blank which form the outer plies 3a and 4a of the two ply side walls are joined to and hinged to the opposite sides of the side wall In by score lines 22a and 23a which are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the bottom portion 7a, so that the wall 1a is slightly wider than the bottom portion 7a.

The flaps 8a and 9a are joined to the portions 311 and 4a of the blanks by score lines 24a and 25a which are olfset outwardly a distance corresponding to the thickness of the paperboard so that the flaps 8a and 9a can be readily swung into position overlying the bottom portion 7a.

The portions of the blank forming the inner plies 5a and 6a of the two ply side walls are joined to the portion forming the side wall 2a by score lines 26a and 27a which are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of the bottom portion 7a so that the portions 5a and 6a can be readily inserted between the portions 3a and 4a. The flaps 10a and 11a are joined to the portions 5a and 6a by score lines 28a and 29a which are offset outwardly with respect to the score line 17a a distance corresponding to twice the thickness of the paperboard, so that the flaps 10a and 11a can be readily swung into place over the flaps 8a and 9a.

Flaps 3a and 4a are provided with short handgrip flaps 33 and 34, respectively, which are formed by U-shaped slits 37 and 38 and double score lines 39, 40 and 41, 42 located a short distance from flaps 8a and 9a. Score lines 39 and 41 are parallel to score lines 24a and 25a, respectively, and are parallel to and spaced a short distance from score lines 40 and 42, respectively. Score lines 39 and 41 are spaced from score lines 40 and 42, respectively, a distance substantially the same as the thickness of plies 5a and 6a. Flaps 5a and 6a are provided with handgrip slots 31 and 32, respectively, alined with and substantially the same size as the slits 37 and 38 so that a pair of registerable handgrip slots is formed in each of the double ply walls of the assembled cover box.

In assembling the box the sections 3a and 4a are first folded about the score lines 22a and 23a, then the flaps 8a and 9a are folded to a position perpendicular to the portions 3a and 4a and the portion 1a is folded on the score line 16a to a position perpendicular to the bottom 7a with the flaps 8a and 9a resting upon the bottom 7a.

For the convenience of the operator, the sections 3a and 4a which should be folded first, may be provided with suitable markings such as notches 30a.

In order to facilitate assembly of the inner and cover boxes, it is preferable to relieve the outer edges of the inner plies of the double walls. As herein shown, the inner plies 5, 5a, 6 and 6a are provided with wall engaging side edges having relieved portions 35, 35a, 36 and 36a, respectively, which facilitate assembly.

After the portions 1a, 3a, 4a, 8a and 9a of the blank are placed in proper position with respect to the bottom portion 7a, the portions 2a, 5a, 6a and 10a and 11a are folded in a like manner and swung about the fold line 17a to bring the portions 511 and 6a within the portions 3a and 4a and the flaps 10a and 11a on top of the flaps 8a and 9a, whereupon the flaps 33 and 34 may be folded on their double score lines and inserted into slots 31 and 32 and the plies of the two ply side walls may be secured together by means such as staples 14a.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the inner box A is formed from a blank similar to the blank of Fig. 6 which provides single ply walls 1 and 2, outer ply walls 3 and 4, inner ply walls 5 and 6, bottom ply 7, intermediate ply flaps 8 and 9, top ply flaps 10 and 11, lines 12 and 13, staples 14, score lines 16 and 17, slits 18 and 19, slots 20 and 21, score lines 22 to 29, notches 30, and relieved portions 35 and 36 corresponding to elements In to 30a, 35a and 36a, respectively, of the cover box B. Box A is assembled like box B and similarly stapled.

In assembling the stapled inner box A and the stapled cover box B, each double ply wall is placed in contact with a single ply wall and the inner box is slidingly inserted into the cover box so that the single ply walls 1 and 2 engage the surface of the flaps 33 and 34. The bands 15 are then placed around the assembled triple thickness box as shown in Fig. l to provide an extremely strong heavy duty container.

The assembled triple thickness box may be readily disassembled by removing bands 15 and by lifting the cover box B.

If desired the inner and cover boxes may be so constructed that after such disassembly the cover box may be inverted and the inner box reinserted through the open end of the cover box so that the bottom wall of the inner box rests upon the inner surface of the top wall of the cover box to form an open top container having four triple ply side walls and one sextuple ply bottom wall. The handgrips of the inverted cover box would facilitate lifting of such an open top container.

It is to be understood that in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific devices herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A heavy duty fiberboard container comprising a pair of telescoped rectangular units each having a closed end and an open end, the closed ends of said units being at opposite ends of said container, each unit comprising an integral web, said units forming together a box having four triple ply side walls, each of said ends comprising triple ply end walls, each ply of each side wall being hinged to and integral with one ply of at least one adjacent side wall, each ply of each end wall being hinged to and integral with one ply on each of a pair of opposite side walls with two of the three plies of each end wall comprising two coplanar panel portions divided one from the other.

2. A heavy duty fibreboard container comprising a receach of said boxes having two parallel single ply side walls and two parallel double ply side walls, each of the single ply side walls of the inner box being hinged to and integral with one ply of each of the two adjacent double ply side walls, the bottom wall of the inner box comprising three superposed plies of fiberboard, a first of said bottom wall plies comprising a single panel hinged to and integral with each of the single ply side walls of the inner box, a second of said bottom wall plies com prising a pair of secondary panels located in a common plane, each of said secondary panels being hinged to and integral with a ply of one of the double ply side walls of the inner box, a third of said bottom wall plies comprising a pair of tertiary panels located in a common plane, each of said tertiary panels beinghinged to and integral with a ply of one of the double ply side walls of the inner box, said inner box and said cover box fitting together with each single ply wall engaging a double ply wall to form a high strength container.

3. A heavy duty fiberboard container comprising a rectangular inner box having a three ply bottom wall and upright side walls and a rectangular open-bottom cover box having a multi-ply top wall and upright side walls, the internal dimensions of the cover box corresponding to the external dimensions of the inner box, said cover box telescopically receiving said inner box with its side walls contacting the side walls of the inner box, its top wall engaging the open top of the inner box and its side walls extending substantially the full depth of the inner box, each of said boxes having two parallel single ply side walls and two parallel double ply side walls, the inner faces of the single ply walls of the cover box contacting the outer faces of the double ply walls of the inner box and the inner faces of the double ply walls of the cover box contacting the outer faces of the single ply walls of the inner box, both plies of each double ply side wall being rectangular and of substantially the same width and height, each ply of each side wall being hinged to and integral with one ply of at least one adjacent side wall, the bottom wall of the inner box comprising three superposed plies of fiberboard, a first of said bottom wall plies comprising a single panel hinged to and integral with each of the single ply side walls of the inner box, a second of said bottom wall plies comprising a pair of secondary panels located in a common plane, each of said secondary panels being hinged to and integral with a ply of one of the double ply side walls of the inner box, a third of said bottom wall plies comprising a pair of tertiary panels located in a common plane, each of said tertiary panels being hinged to and integral with a ply of one of the double ply side walls of the inner box.

4. A heavy duty fiberboard container comprising a pair of telescoped rectangular units each having a closed end and an open end, the closed ends iOf said units being at opposite ends of said container, each unit comprising an integral web, said units forming together a box having four triple ply side walls, each of said ends comprising triple ply end walls, each ply of each side wall being hinged to and integral with one ply of at least [one adjacent side wall, each ply of each end wall being hinged to and integral with one ply on each of a pair of opposite side walls with two of the three plies of each end wall comprising at least two coplanar panel pzortions divided one from the other, the combined area of the coplanar panel portions of each of said two of the three plies being substantially equal to; the 'area of the third of the three plies in each end wall.

5. A heavy duty fiberboard container comprising a rectangular inner box having a three ply bottom wall and box :with its side walls contacting the side walls 'ofthe inner boxvand extending from the top of the inner box down substantially the full depth of the inner box, each of said boxes having two parallel single ply side walls and two parallel double ply side walls, each of the single ply side walls of the inner box being hinged to and integral with one ply of each of the two adjacent double ply side walls, the bottom wall of the inner box comprising three superposed plies of fiberboard, a first of said bottom wall plies comprising a single panel hinged to and integral with each of the single ply side walls of the inner box, a second of said bottom wall plies comprising a plurality of at least two secondary panels located in a common plane and of a combined area substantially equal to that of said first bottom wall ply, at least two of said secondary panels being hinged to and integral with a ply of tone of the double ply side walls of the inner box, a third of said bottom wall plies comprising a plurality of at least two tertiary panels located in a common plane and of a combined area substantially equal to that of said first bottom wall ply, at least two of said tertiary panels being hinged to and integral with a ply of one of the double ply side walls of the inner box, said inner box and said cover box fitting together with each single ply \vall engaging a double ply wall to form a high strength container.

6. A heavy duty fiberboard container comprising a rectangular inner box having a three ply bottom wall and upright side walls and a rectangular open-bottom cover box having a multi-ply top wall and upright side walls, the internal dimensions of the cover b'ox corresponding to the external dimensions of the inner box, said cover box telescopically receiving said inner box with its side walls contacting the side walls of the inner box, its top wall engaging the open top of the inner box and its side walls extending substantially the full depth of the inner box, each of said boxes having two parallel single ply side walls and two parallel double ply side walls, the inner faces of the single ply walls of "the vcover box contacting the outer faces of .the singleply walls of the cover box contacting the outer. faces of the double ply walls of the inner box and the inner faces of the double ply walls of the cover box contacting the outer faces of the single ply walls of the inner box, both plies of each double ply side wall being rectangular and of substantially the same width and height, each ply of each side wall being hinged to and integral with one ply of at least one adjacent side wall, the bottom wall of the inner box comprising three superposed plies of fiberboard, a first of said bottom wall plies comprising a single panel hinged to and integral with each of the single ply side walls of the inner box, a second of said bottom wall plies comprising a plurality of at least two secondary panels located in a common plane and of a combined area substantially equal to that of said first bottom wall ply, at least two of said secondary panels being hinged to and integral with a ply of one of the double ply side walls of the inner box, a third of said bottom wall plies comprising a plurality of at least two tertiary panels located in a common plane, at least two of said tertiary panels being hinged to and integral with a ply of one of the double ply side walls of the inner box.

(References on following page) 7 References Cited in the file of this patent ,928 2,416,725 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,567,786 2,014,695 Peterson Sept. 17, 1935 2,597,848 2,125,813 Roscoe Aug. 2, 1938 5 2,615,613

8 Levkofi Feb. 15, 1944 Williamson Mar. 4, 1947 Rosenberg Sept. 11, 1951 Reeser May 27, 1952 Reeser Oct. 28, 1952 

